high point market ~ spring 2012 ~ oly, verellen

Let’s conclude our trip to the spring 2012 High Point Market with a visit to Oly and Verellen

First up, the Oly showroom located in a charming old building just a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the IHFC (International Home Furnishings Center)…let me preface by saying my visit to Oly was on the last day of Market…by the time I arrived, they were packing up the first floor of the showroom…what I thought was a huge disappointment turned out to be a blessing disguise! The entire second floor was still intact! I had the rare privilege of photographing the upstairs in peace and quiet…the morning rain had cleared and there was nothing but sunshine and warm breezes coming through the windows…natural light, steel casement windows and well worn wood floors provided a stylish backdrop for Oly’s ultra chic collection of furniture, lighting and unique objects…notice the expressive hand painted walls in the bedroom…this room offered me such a rare and special moment…maybe because I was experiencing it by myself or maybe because it was a truly remarkable work of art

When the shuttle pulled up to this odd white structure (with no signage from the street) I didn’t know what to think…do I have the driver wait for me? It would be a very long walk back to the IHFC and my feet were beyond tired…but my gut was telling me to go for it, so instead, I jumped out onto the white gravel courtyard and embarked on what would be the most memorable part of my journey…with one foot in the door I knew this would be a one-of-a-kind feast for the senses…I was greeted by Jeff, lighting designer, Jen, CaDdy designer, a wood burning stove, and the sweet smell of candles burning…what seemed quite rustic at first, quickly morphed into a chic and sophisticated environment, the likes of which I had never experienced before…seducing me with a sensory overload were their linen and leather upholstered pieces finished with couture dress maker details and their artistic and earthy chandeliers, reminiscent of bird nests and canoes…a graceful combination of elements that felt timeless and inventive all at the same time…

They pride themselves on thinking outside the box, creating pieces that stretch the boundaries and excite the senses…for me, they accomplished this and so much more…they created a lifestyle…a place where you could imagine yourself living…an oasis of calm and beauty…I never wanted to leave